Automatic gas and electric pressure



Sept. 1, 1953 1; PAGE AUTOMATIC GAS AND ELECTRIC PRESSURE COOKER 3'Sheets-Sheet 1' Original Filed Sept. 27, 1945 INVENTOR IRVING- PAGE BYQ - ATTORNEY Rev 23,709

' 1. PAGE AUTOMATIC GAS AND ELECTRIC PRESSURE COOKER Sept. 1, 1953Original Filed Sept.v 2'7, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 H T m N R E o v Q T m mm v R Tll- Y a B F iflflfl F J m 9 l o J 9 m 6 s m kt J am 1 mm Sept. 1,1953 1. PAGE Re. 23,709

AUTOMATIC GAS AND ELECTRIC PRESSURE COOKER Original Filed Sept. 27, 1945's'sheets-sheex 3 5 is! (in: aunjr i HO 95 f 7.- INVENTOIR .98 I -v N PA3- JJA BY P 7 Reissued Sept. 1, 1953 D ELECTRIC PRESSURE AUTOMATIC GASAN COO KER

Irving Page, New York, N. Y.

Original No. 2,537,695, dated January 9, 1951, Serial No. 618,850,September 27, 1945. Application for reissue December 29, 1951, SerialNo.

8 Claims.

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent butforms no part of this reissue ification; matter printed in italicsindicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pressurecookers, and has more particular reference to an automatic gas andelectric pressure cooker.

More particularly the invention proposes a new and improved pressurecooker or pot which is arranged to be heated by a gas flame, and by anelectric winding. An automatic arrangement is proposed to control thesupply of gas to the flame and the supply of electric current to thewinding, so as to turn off the heat when the internal pressure of thepot reaches a predetermined amount. An arrangement is also proposedwhereby one or both of the heating devices may be further operated so asto maintain the heat for a predetermined time to cook those foods, whichrequire pressure as well as time. ese foods which are cooked quicklywhen the predetermined pressure is reached are finished the first timethat the automatic device works to shut oif the heating devices.

The invention furthermore contemplates providing the pressure pot with asafety valve and a pressure gauge so that it may be safely operated.

It is also proposed to characterize the new pressure pot by the factthat it includes a container for a pot and a cover. Clamps are used toclamp the cover in position on the container.

It is proposed to so arrange the clamps so that they operate to closevent openings formed in the container and serve to permit the escape ofgases while the cover clamp are being loosened. It is proposed that theclamps control a switch which controls the circuit with the electricwind- A novel arrangement is also proposed for cooling the pot so thatwhen the cover is removed from the container, the pot is not too hot tobe handled.

A novel way is proposed for holding the cover in position on the top ofthe pot.

Still further the invention proposes a new and improved gas and electricautomatic pressure pot as briefly explained, which may be manufacturedand sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, ref erence Will he had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a gas and electric automaticpressure pot constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational viewlooking in thedirection of the line 5-5 of Fig.

Fig. 5A is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 5 havingportions thereof broken away to reveal detailed construction.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the interior of thecontainer, specifically illustrating parts which assist in supportingthe pot.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 'I'I of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detailed view of the pressure responsive devicewhich operates the automatic control for the gas and electric heatingdevices.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 3but disclosing the parts in greater detail.

Fig. 10A is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 10, but illustrating adifferent position of the parts.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 3,and more specifically the upper right-hand corner thereof.

Fig. 11A is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 11.

Fig. 12 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electric circuit of thedevice.

The new and improved gas and electric automatic pressure pot inaccordance with this invention, includes a container l5 adapted toreeeive and hold the pot [6 in which food may be placed for cooking. Thepot I6 has handles [6' and the container l5 has handles [5. Thecontainer i5 has a horizontal bottom spider-like partition I 1 uponwhich the pot It may rest. This partition I! is provided with aprojection 18 at one point which engages a complementary groove l9formed in the pot l6 by which it is possible to position the pot IS inidentical positions on the partition ll. The pot I6 is provided with acover 20 having a handle 20'.

The container [5 is provided with a cover 2| having a rim 22 adapted torest upon a rim 23 formed upon the top of the container IS. The

rims 22 and 23 have parallel interengaged surfaces 24 for assisting insealing the cover 2| on the container I5. Clamp means is provided forclamping the cover 2| in position. These clamp means include clamps 26engageable over the rims 22 and 23 and provided with clamp screws 21which may be tightened to tighten the clamps in position on the rims 22and23lfor clamping the cover 2| in position.

Each clamp 29 is provided with a projecting end portion 28, which havesmall plug-like portions 29 normally engaging into vent openings 38formed in the cover 2| and connecting with tubes 39' which connect withtubes 39".- Thearrangement is such that when the clamps 2B are tightthen the plug-like projections 29 engage the vents 3 and tightly sealthe tubes 39'.

A handle 32 is mounted upon the top of the cover 2| by which the cover2| may be easily gripped and moved. A partition 33 divides off a topsection of the cover, which is filled with asbestos 34, or other heatinsulation material for preventing the topof the cover from becoming toohot. A safety valve 36 and a pressure gauge 31 are mounted on theprojected top ends of the tubes 39 which extend through the cover 21 forcooperation with the pot I8. More particularly the cover of the pot I6is provided with funnel portions38 which" communicate with the interiorof the pot- IB. The tubes 39 of the safety valve I 36 and the pressuregauge 3! fit into and tightly engage the funnels 38 when the cover 2|)is correctly positioned on the pot I6 and the cover 2| is mounted uponthe container I5.

The interior of the container I5 is provided with opposed shelves 48upon which clamps 4| are mounted. These clamps 4| are slidable in tracks42 on the shelves 48. The clamps 4| are capable of being clamped inseveral adjusted positions. Clamp screws 43 engage through the clamps 4|and are cooperative with series of openings 44 formed upon the shelves40. The clamps 4| comprise a pair of clamp jaws 45 and 45' which areengageable with flanges 41 formed on adjacent portions of the cover 28and pot I8,

see Figs. 5 and 5A. Theseflangesfl, atone point, are formed with verysmall recesses 48 into which small projections 49 on the jaws 45 and 46'engage, see Fig. 5A, for correctly securing the cover 20' upon the potI6 so that the" funnels 38: will align with the tubes 39.

The opposed edges of theshelves 48 are formed with tracks 58 withinwhich semi-circular slides 5| are slidably mounted. Clamp screws 53- arecooperative with the slides 5| to hold them in extended and retractedpositions. The screws 53 are mounted upon the lowermost members 5| andpass through slots 54 formed in other members 5|. In this way it ispossible to clamp the members 5| in extended or retracted positions. Inextended positions the members 5| are capable of engaging about thesides of the pot I 6 for assisting in holding the pot centrally withinthe container I5. In retracted positions the members 5| may engageseveral different sizes and shapes of pots.

A cooler system is associated with the container I5 and the cover 2| bywhich it is possible to cool off the pot I6. This cooler system includes a water coil 55 engaged around the pot I5. The coil 55 has aninlet 55 extending out from the side of the container I5 and adapted tobe connected by a water hose with a water faucet or other water supplyand a valve controlled outlet 68. A water coil 58 is mounted within thecover 2|. This coil 58 has an inlet 59 extending out from the side ofthe cover 2| and adapted to be connected with a water supply hose and avalve controlled outlet 59.

A gas burner is provided for heating the pot I8. This gas burner is inthe nature of the usual annular gas burner member 6|. This member 8| issupported within the bottom of the container I 5 below the partition IT.The gas burner member 8| has the usual inlet 62 for the airgas mixture.

A gassupply pipe 63 is connected with the inlet 62 in the usual way. Thegas pipe 63 extends through the sides of the container l5. A gas supplyvalve 64 is mounted upon the gas pipe 63 by which the gas may becontrolled. An auxiliary automatic control valve 66 is mounted upon thegas pipe 53 within the container I5. This valve 69 has an operator stem61 which extends upwards through a bushing 68 mounted upon the partitionI1. The top of the stem Ii! is provided witha knob 69 which-is engagedby a cam arm 1-0.. This cam. arm I0 is supported by a pintle H upon abracket I2 mounted within the container I5.

The upper end of the cam arm 18 is provided with an offset portion 13which engages the side of a pressure responsive device I4 mounted on andthrough the wall of the pot I6. This pressure responsive device I4 isshown in detail. in Fig. 9.. It consists of a gland-like. body I6mounted on and through the wall of the pot I5. A plunger l1. projectsfrom the outer end: of the body I5. A loading spring I8 normally urgesthe plunger 17' inwards. The plunger IT is connected with a piston whichslidesiin a cylinder 8| formed within the body 16. The cylinder 8|connects witha passage 82 which connects. with the interior of the potI6. When a predetermined pressure is reached within the pot I6, thepiston 88 will be moved, compressing the spring "I8 so that the plungerIT is extended and engages the end I3 of the cam arm in pivoting the camarm and causing the valve stem 51 to be moved downwards closing thevalve 68. This cuts off the gas supply to the burner member 6|. Acontraction spring 86 acts between the cam arm 10 and the container I5for normally tending to pivot the cam arm so that the oiTset end I3maintains its position against the plunger 11.

An electric heating winding 88 is mounted within the bottom of thecontainer I5 below the partition I]. This electric heating winding 88 isconnected in a circuit 89 which includes a manually operable switch 98'and an automatic switch 9|. This automatic switch 9| consists of acontact arm 92 mounted upon the cam arm Ill and cooperative with astationary contact arm. 93 mounted within the container I5. When the camarm I8 pivots to close the valve 55 the switch 9| automatically opens soas to open the electric circuit through the heating winding 88. Thebottom of the container I5 is closed with a disc 94. An air inlet tubeis mounted through the side of the container and. acts to supply air tothe gas burner member BI between the partition I! and the disc 94 tosupport combustion. The gases resulting from combustion rise in thecontainer I5 past the spider-like partition I! and exhaust from theinterior of the container I5 through the exhaust ports 95', see Figs. 1,2 and 4. The heating winding 88 also serves as a pilot to light the gasburner 6|. The container I5 has a colored glass window l-5a opposite theburner 6| by which it is possible to see whether or not the burner islit.

A latch is associated with the cam arm 10 for locking it in the positionwhen the gas valve 66 is closed and. the switch 9| is open. This latchincludes a tubular gland 96 mounted through the wall of the containerI5. A stem 91 passes through the gland 96. The outer end of the stem 91has a handle 98 by which it may be moved. The inner end of the stem 91is provided with a flange 99 against which an expansion spring I acts.This spring I00 tends to urge the stem 91 inward. A keeper element IOIis mounted upon the cam arm 10. Normally the stem 91 engages against thebottom face of the keeper IOI. However, when the cam arm 10 pivots toclose the valve 66 and open the switch 9|, the stem 91 will move inwardand engage the side of the keeper I0| locking the cam arm 16 in itspivoted position, see Fig. 10A.

One of the clamps 26 controls a switch I connected in series in thecircuit 89. This circuit also includes an indicator lamp I06. The switchI05 is of the type which is normally open. When the screw 21 of theclamp 26 is turned completely inwards, it forces the switch I05 closed,see Fig. 11. The lamp I06 is mounted upon the cover 2|. A translucentguard I01 is mounted over the lamp I06. The circuit 69 extends from thecover 2| to the container I5 through contacts I08 and I09 on theseparts, respectively, which engage each other when the cover 2| is inposition on the container I5. The contact I09 of the container I5 arespaced and the contact I09 in the cover 2| bridges the contacts I08 whenthe cover I5 is in position on the container I5, see Fig. 11A.

The circuit 89 also includes a time switch III). This time .switch hasan adjustment knob I I I by which it may be set. The time switch IIOcontrols the circuit B9. It is operated by a circuit H2. A shuntconnection I|4 from the time switch III) shunts the automatic switch 9|.The time switch III! may be set to open the circuit 09 after apreselected time. Because of the shunt I I4 the circuit 89 may be keptclosed by the time switch 0 even though the automatic switch 9| is open,if this operation is desired.

The operation of the new and improved pressure pot may be understoodfrom the following:

Let us assume that the pot is in the condition as illustrated in Fig. 3.In this condition the gas burner member BI is being supplied with gasand the flame is heating the spider-like partition l1 and the pot I6.Since the switch 9| is closed the electric winding 88 is being suppliedwith electric current for heating the pot I6. When the internal pressurewithin the pot I6 exceeds a safe limit the safety valve 36 will act. Thegauge 31 may be examined at any time to ascertain the pressure in thepot I6.

When the internal pressure of the pot I6 has reached a predeterminedamount, depending upon the design of the spring 18 in the pressureresponsive device 14, which may be replaced by other devices withsprings of other design, the plunger 11 will be extended. When theplunger 11 moves outwards it pivots the cam arm causing the valve 66 tobe closed and the switch automatically turns of? the the heating winding88 and of gas to the burner member 9| to be open. This supply of currentto closes off the supply 6|. If it is desired to maintain cooking at thedesired pressure and temperature it is merely necessary to release thecam arm 10 by disengaging stem 91 from keeper WI, and the spring 86rotates the cam arm to its original position. This closes the switch 9|and supplie current to the heating coil 88. The valve 66 is reopened sothat the gas is again supplied to the burner member 6| which will beignited by the winding 88. If it is desired to solely use the electricheating device, the main valve 64 of the gas pipe 63 is turned 01f. Whenthe internal pressure within the pot I6 again reaches the maximum, theplunger 11 will again project and again the cam arm 19 will function toreopen the switch 9|. However, since it is possible to operate thepressure pot without the gas burner, it is merely a matter of design toso design the electric heating winding 83 that the pressure within thepot I6 will be closely maintained but not reached for a pre-determinedtime. For example, five minutes or ten minutes depending upon design.

When the cover 2| is mounted upon the container I5 and the clamps 26 aretightened for holding the cover in position, one of the clamp screws 21will close the switch I05. This closes the circuit 89. The indicatorlamp I06 lights up and indicates this fact. When the circuit 89 isclosed the heating winding 68 becomes energized. It acts as a pilot forlighting the gas burner 6|. The time switch ||0 controls the circuit 89.The pressure responsive device 14 makes it possible to maintain selectedpressures and temperatures within the pot I6 by pivoting the cam arm 10against the action of the spring 86 to close the control valve 66 of thegas pipe 63. Such pivotal movement of the cam arm 10, under theinfluence of the pressure responsive device 14, also opens the switch 9|to open the circuit 89 and de-energize the heating coil 88.

After the food within the pot I6 has been cooked it is necessary to cooloff the cover and the pot I6. This may be done by opening the supply ofwater to the coils 55 and 58. After a short time the clamp screws 21 areloosened. If there is still internal steam or pressure within the potI6, this pressure will escape through the vent openings as the clamps 26become loose.

The cover 2| may now be safely removed and then the pot I6 with itscover 20 may be removed.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A gas and electric automatic pressure pot, comprising a container fora pot, a cover for said container, a pot removably mounted in saidcontainer, gas and electric heating means disposed within and supportedby said container, said gas and electric heating means being positionedbelow said pot, said electrical heating means when energized initiatingignition of said gas means, and pressure responsive means connected withsaid pot for rendering said gas and electric means inoperative.

2. A gas and electric automatic pressure pot comprising a container fora pot, a cover for said container, a pot removably mounted in saidcontainer, gas and electric heating means disposed within and supportedby said container, said gas and electric heating means being positionedbelow said pot, said electrical heating means when energized initiatingignition of said gas means, pressure responsive means connected withsaid pot for rendering said gas means inoperative, and manuallyoperative means for restoring the operation of said gas and electricheating means.

3. A gas and electric automatic pres-sure pot comprising a container fora pot, a cover for said container, a pot removably mounted in saidcontainer, gas and electric heating means disposed within and supportedby said container, said gas and electric heating means being positionedbelow said pot, said electrical heating means when energized initiatingignition of said gas means, pressure responsive means connected withsaid not for rendering said gas means inoperative, and manuallyoperative means for restoring the operation of said gas and electricheating means, the container and its cover being provided with awater-cooling system adapted for manual control subsequently to the gasand electric heating means being rendered inoperative, thereby providinga pressure pot having controllable heating and cooling means.

4. A gas and electric automatic pressure pot comprising a container fora pot, a cover for said container, a pot removably mounted in saidcontainer, gas and electric heating means disposed within and supportedby said container, said gas and electric heating means being positionedbelow said pot, said electrical heating means when energized initiatingignition of said gas means, pressure responsive means connected said potfor rendering said gas means inoperative, and manually operative meansfor restoring the operation of said gas and electric heating means, thecontainer being provided with a horizontal, bottom spider-like partitionon which said pot rests, said pot and partition being provided withinterengageable portions to ensure that the pot is always in the correctposition for operation and use.

5. A gas and electric automatic pressure pot comprising a container fora pot, a cover for said container, a pot removably mounted in saidcontainer, gas and electric heating means disposed within and supportedby said container, said gas and electric heating means being positionedbelow pot, said electrical heating means when energized initiatingignition of said gas means, pressure responsive means connected withsaid pot for rendering said gas means inoperative, manually operativemeans for restoring the operation of said gas and electric heatingmeans, a cover for said pot, funnel portions provided on said cover andcommunicating with the interior of said pot, a pressure gauge tightlyfitting into and engaging one of said funnels and a safety valve tightlyfitting into and engaging another of said funnels when the pot cover iscorrectly positioned on the pot and the container cover is in position,said pressure gauge and safety valve extending through the saidcontainer cover and projecting thereabove.

6. A gas and electric automatic pressure pot comprising a container fora pot, a cover for said container, a ,pot removably mounted in saidcontaincr, gas and electric heating means disposed within and supportedby said container, said gas and electric heating means being positionedbelow said pot, said electrical heating means when energized initiatingignition of said gas means,

pressure responsive means connected with said pot for rendering said gasmeans inoperative, and.

manually operative means for restoring the operation of said gas andelectric heating means, said pressure responsive means being mounted onand eatending laterally through the pot wall and being actuated by theattainment of a predetermined pressure within the pot.

7. A gas and electric automatic pressure pot, comprising a container fora pot, a cover for said container, a pot removably mounted in saidcontainer, gas and electric heating means disposed within and supportedby said container, said gas and electric heating means being positionedbelow said pot, said electrical heating means when energized initiatingignition of said gas means, and pressure responsive means connected withsaid pot for rendering said gas and electric means inoperative, saidelectrical heating means including a circuit having an automatic switchand a time switch either of which is capable of breaking said circuit,said circuit and switches being interconnected electrically so that thecircuit may be maintained in closed condition by the time switch evenwhen the automatic switch is open.

8. A gas and electric automatic pressure pot, comprising a container fora pot, a cover for said container, a pot removably mounted in saidcontainer, gas and electric heating means disposed and supported by saidcontainer, said gas and electric heating means being positioned belowsaid pot, said electrical heating means when energized initiatingignition of said gas means, pressure responsive means connected withsaid pot for rendering said gas and electric means inoperative, andmanual means for rendering the gas heating means inoperative whereby thepressure pot is adapted to be operated by the electrical heating meansalone.

IRVING PAGE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NameDate Prindle Dec. 13, Todd Mar. 9, Booker June 24, Herdrich Sept. 27,Fish Apr. 27, 'Coles Sept. 28, Hettinger July 12, Saeki Mar. 17,McFarlane Oct. 27, Demuth May 11, Simpson June 4, Goughnour Apr. 29,Carroll Nov. 11, Starr May 5, Rosellini Jan. 2, Walder Dec. 14, SwartzFeb. 7, Wilcox Mar. 28, Graham Jan. 19, Allen Feb. 20, Wilson Jan. 1,1946 Whitney June 7, 1949 Newell Mar. 8, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS CountryDate Sweden Feb. 21, 1933 France Apr. 23, 1914 Number Number

